A TASTE of the Big Apple lies in store for Manchester-based marketeer Gayle Friel.

She has been appointed by Marketing Manchester to the New York-based position of Manchester Gateway Marketing Manager.

She will be based in the NYC offices of VisitBritain. The joint initiative between Marketing Manchester and VisitBritain has been co-ordinated to develop further more than six years of successful marketing initiatives that promote Manchester as a Gateway to England's "North Country".

"I am absolutely delighted at this fantastic opportunity to represent Manchester in North America," she said, "and to do so in New York makes this a dream job."

Gayle has worked for Marketing Manchester for three and a half years. She will be seconded to VisitBritain for two years.

Conferences

The post will focus on increasing the number of conferences hosted in the north west, identifying appropriate associations, events and exhibitions, as well as overseeing promotional activities.

Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen further the excellent work already established in the north American market and to capitalise on the unique opportunities that the location of this new position will afford."

VisitBritain's executive vice president for The Americas, Rupert Peters, added: "We are delighted to have Gayle join VisitBritain's network in New York City. She brings a wealth of experience in working with both consumer and travel trade markets and in developing marketing programmes."